This act appropriates capital funds and authorizes their financing with state bonding. This act addresses many state capital needs, including the current and future status of the Vermont state hospital and the construction of schools and technical education centers. This act requires the preparation of several legislative reports.

Monetary Provisions

Appropriations in this act

The total spending authorized in this act is $45,173,162.00. Of this amount, $173,162 is supported with proceeds from unspent capital appropriations from previous years. The balance of $45 million requires the issuance of new long-term general obligation bonds. In addition, the Big Bill conference committee report dedicates more than $8 million in general fund appropriations to financing the anticipated costs of school construction (Sec. 255 - $6.220M; Sec. 263 - $2.043M in "waterfall").

The Capital Debt Affordability Committee recommended $45 million as the prudent amount of debt to be authorized for fiscal year 2006.

Of the total amount appropriated:

Ten individual appropriations in the act are of $1,000,000 or more each, and together constitute two-thirds of the total capital funds appropriated. The items and amounts are as follows:

· Municipal water pollution and public drinking water supply programs $7,550,000

· School construction (plus $8.2M from general fund) 5,300,000

· Statewide major maintenance 5,000,000

· Addison County State Police Facility 2,850,000

· Clean and Clear program 2,200,000

· 133 State Street (Montpelier) renovations 1,900,000

· Health and Forensic Laboratories 1,800,000

· Agricultural Best Management Practices 1,800,000

University of Vermont 1,700,000

· Vermont State Colleges 1,700,000

TOTAL $31,800,000

Statutory Additions and Amendments

The 2005 Capital Construction Act adds or amends state law on the following subjects. For details, see the act section identified.

· Management and use of capital funds (Secs. 23-25)

· Sale of a portion of the former Brandon Training School and use of proceeds (Sec. 26)

· Sale of property in South Burlington (Sec. 27)

· Plans for State House to accommodate needs for increased space (Sec. 28)

· Provisions relating to state police facilities (Secs. 29-30)

· Miscellaneous provisions related to state office buildings and state land (Secs. 31-33, 38-39)

The 2005 Capital Act also requires the following reports to the general assembly. For details, see the act section identified.

1. Regular reports from the department of buildings and general services to the joint mental health oversight committee and the chairs of the house and senate committees on institutions regarding work on Vermont state hospital planning supported by appropriations made in this act (Sec. 3(b))

2. On or before January 15, 2006, the department of corrections shall report to the house and senate committees on institutions regarding the department's recommendations for the use or disposal of old mill equipment located at the southeastern state correctional facility (Sec. 3(e)(2))

3. On or before January 15, 2006, the department of corrections shall report to the house and senate committees on appropriations and on institutions regarding the proposed operational and equipment budgets for programs to occur within a potential correctional industries building at the southern state correctional facility (Sec. 3(f))

4. On or before January 15, 2006, the state board of education shall report to the house and senate committees on education and on institutions regarding prioritization of school construction projects and technical education centers (Sec. 6(d))

5. On or before January 15, 2006, the state house committee created by Sec. 28 of this act shall report to the house and senate committees on institutions regarding recommendations to accommodate the need for increased space at the state house (Sec. 28)

6. On or before December 1, 2005, the department of buildings and general services shall report to the house and senate committees on institutions regarding a comprehensive proposal for accommodating certain state infrastructure needs in Chittenden County and elsewhere (Sec. 31)

7. On or before January 15, 2006, the department of buildings and general services shall report to the house and senate committees on institutions regarding a detailed plan by which certain state constitutional officers could be located at 109 State Street in Montpelier (Sec. 32)

8. On or before January 15, 2006, representatives of several competitive grant programs shall report to the house and senate committees on institutions regarding ways in which the programs can be coordinated or otherwise improved (Sec. 37)

9. On or before January 15, 2006, the secretary of natural resources shall report to the house and senate committees on institutions regarding

a. Whether it is possible to continue to use the Waterbury state complex generator for purposes other than an emergency (Sec. 40)

b. The operation of the agency's matching grant program to control the growth and spread of invasive aquatic plants and the estimated need for future capital funding (Sec. 43)